If the weather’s nice outside, you might be tempted to enjoy your favourite TV shows al fresco. You might also be planning to invite family and friends over to watch the big game.

But one thing can spoil the party before it’s even begun: screen glare. We’ve all experienced it at some point, with the most vivid thing on the screen being your own reflection.

Screen glare is caused by light reflecting off the outer surface of your display; it essentially acts as a mirror. If your Outdoor TV is competing with direct sunlight, there’s only usually going to be one winner: the enormous star in the sky.

So, how do you eliminate screen glare — or at least minimise it?

Adjust the screen settings

Because of the importance of brightness, the first port of call when reducing screen glare is to make sure the screen’s backlight is set to the maximum possible level.

While brightness is by far the most important factor, you can usually also adjust contrast levels, colour, and sharpness to optimise the picture quality.

Anti-glare screen protectors and front panels for your TV are a potential solution, but results tend to be mixed and they can be fairly expensive. They can also sometimes create a washed-out look.

Maximise shade (and face south)

Try to place your screen in an area that is as shaded as possible—whether that’s under a sunshade, overhang, roof, pergola, awning, or gazebo. Use trees, fences, plants, and ornaments to block out as much sunlight as possible. If your TV is wall-mounted, experiment with different angles and tilts.

If shade comes at a premium, turning your screen round (or mounting it on a south-facing wall) will at least take it out of the line of fire of the sun’s UV rays.

If your TV is manufactured for use outside, then keeping it out of direct sunlight is essential. Indoor TVs typically have a very limited temperature range.

Place darker items in the backdrop

If you can use plants, fencing, ornaments, or trees to block out light behind the screen and create a darker backdrop, you’ll be able to minimise some glare. This is clearly easier said than done, especially in an outdoor environment.

By the same token, avoid placing the TV where there is plenty of open, bright space in front of it. Also, try not to position it too high where the open sky is behind—this will create more glare.

Purchase a dedicated outdoor TV

Outdoor TVs have been specially designed and manufactured for optimal viewing performance, even in direct sunlight.

Outdoor TVs can be up to five times brighter than a regular TV. Brightness is expressed in cd/m² (candela per square metre), a unit of measurement for luminous intensity. An outdoor TV will have a brightness between 1000 and 1500 cd/m²—for context, normal TVs typically have 350 cd/m².

These products also have anti-glare screens, which are coated surfaces that disperse light, preventing it from reflecting back. Outdoor TVs also typically have very generous viewing angles—some as wide as 178° —meaning there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

They also have an ingress protection (IP) rating, which means they’re fully weatherproof against water, dust, and dirt.

So, if enjoying TV outside is something you’re planning to make a habit of, then an outdoor TV may be a very worthwhile investment. At ProofVision, we manufacture high-quality innovative waterproof electronics. For those considering one, we’ve also put together a useful outdoor TV buyer’s guide.

ProofVision: high-performance outdoor TVs and displays

Being outside and enjoying TV don’t have to be mutually exclusive activities. You can reduce screen glare by ensuring a shaded location—ideally south-facing—and upping the screen brightness setting.

That said, the best solution will always be to invest in a dedicated outdoor TV. They’re optimised for outdoor visual performance and longevity.

Weather resistant, ultra HD, super bright and aesthetically designed, our range has been installed at Silverstone, Wimbledon, the 2012 London Olympics, the superyacht Ulysses and many pub gardens and luxury homes across the UK.

To add more value to your home or commercial space, simply get in touch today. We’ll help to discover the perfect TV for your outdoor space. Or, check out the Lifestyle Plus NX Outdoor TV range.